According to data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the number of deaths caused by scorpions in the country is on the rise. Last year, the number of fatalities due to scorpion stings surpassed those from snake bites.
Scorpions have become the deadliest animals in Brazil, posing a significant threat to public health across the nation and leading to an increasing demand for antivenom.
Among the various species of scorpions, the Brazilian yellow scorpion, the most dangerous scorpion species in South America, is the greatest concern. Notably, because this species reproduces asexually, controlling its population growth has become increasingly challenging.
With the warming of their habitats, the metabolism of scorpions has intensified, leading to increased activity, higher food consumption, and rapid reproduction.
Brazilian Yellow Scorpion (Tityus serrulatus) – (Photo: Luísa Mota/Flickr).
Thiago Chiariello, the coordinator for antivenom production at the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, stated that uncontrolled urban development has also contributed to the increasing scorpion population.
Urbanization has caused predator species that feed on scorpions (such as lizards and birds) to move away from their habitats, creating an abundant food source for scorpions, primarily cockroaches. This has created an ideal environment for scorpion proliferation, bringing them closer to human populations.
“Rapidly developing urban areas and increasing waste have provided a rich food source for scorpions, leading to more encounters with humans and resulting in more accidents,” Chiariello remarked.
Although the number of scorpion stings remains lower than that of snake bites, the Brazilian Ministry of Health reports an increasing number of fatalities from scorpion stings. In 2023, Brazil recorded 152 deaths due to scorpion stings, while snake bite fatalities totaled 140.
The death toll from scorpion stings has also significantly risen compared to 95 cases reported in 2019. Other data indicates that in 2023 there were over 200,000 scorpion sting incidents, a 2.5-fold increase from a decade ago, averaging nearly 550 stings per day.
For healthy adults, a sting from the Brazilian yellow scorpion may cause only mild to moderate symptoms such as pain, vomiting, sweating, and trembling. However, for children and the elderly, more severe symptoms can occur, including shock, fluid accumulation in the lungs, cardiovascular damage, and heart failure, which can lead to death.
Antivenom Shortage for Scorpion Stings The Butantan Institute is currently working diligently to supply antivenom for scorpion stings. Experts here use tweezers to extract scorpion venom into a vial, then inject the venom into horses—animals that are less affected by scorpion toxins—to produce antibodies known as serum. “This serum is the only way to save lives,” explained biologist Paulo Goldoni from the Butantan Institute. Last year, over 11,000 people in Brazil received scorpion antivenom, primarily in the densely populated southeast region. The Butantan Institute maintains a stable supply of venom for serum production. However, experts warn that without sufficient serum, the number of fatalities could rise sharply. |
